HAT TRICK: A Look At The NHL All-Stars

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This week’s Pucking Awesome Hat Trick is going to be a little different just like an Olympic NHL season.  Speaking of those upcoming Olympics next month, fans get treated to All-Star games of countries the NHL fan does not get to see when the Eastern Conference best square off against the Western Conference best.  So this week I am going to announce the Pucking Awesome NHL All-Star rosters.  Keep in mind all teams must be represented and sorry for not doing it World vs U.S.

EASTERN CONFERENCE ROSTER

Starters

G Martin Brodeur—You can officially call it a bounce back year

D Mike Green—Leads all defenseman in points, PP points and is a +20

D Chris Pronger—Has solidified Flyers back line and special teams

W Alex Ovechkin—Has 29 goals in only 39 GP, plus need to see him in skills competition

W Marian Gaborik—Has stayed healthy thus near the top in goals scored

C Sidney Crosby—Has proved he can score goals with the best of them

Reserves

G Ryan Miller—Would be Vezina favorite if it wasn’t for that Brodeur guy

G Henrik Lundqvist—Always gives his team a chance to win

D Tomas Kaberle—Rumors will swirl in second half as this guy continues to produce

D Mark Streit—Had to take an Islanders and Streit seems to be the pick until Tavares blossoms

D Tobias Enstrom—Having a career year in Atlanta

D Zdeno Chara—Have to take a Bruin and everyone wants to see him in hardest slap shot

F Tomas Plekanek—Already getting close to his career high in assists

F Martin St Louis—Still raking up points quietly in Tampa

F Eric Staal—Again, have to take a Hurricane, injuries and bad supporting cast have slowed his production a bit

F Stephen Weiss—Blossoming into a superstar while also stepping up for injured David Booth

F Mike Fisher—Snub off Canadian Olympic team for now, but makes the team as lone Senators

F Nicklas Backstrom—We knew he could pass, but who knew he could score?

F Iyla Kovalchuck—Biding his time in Atlanta by still showing the league he is a top sniper

F Evgeni Malkin—This was a star power pick, a lot of other players deserve this spot but an All-Star game is made to show off stars

F Steve Stamkos—Last roster spot goes to under the radar player with big numbers

WESTERN CONFERENCE ROSTER

Starters

G Miikka Kiprusoff—Toughest call on team, couldn’t go wrong on any of the G’s on team

D Duncan Keith—The best defenseman on the best team always makes it, plus he is really good 

D Dan Boyle—Why did the Lightning trade him again?

W Dany Heatley—Has fit well on the west coast

W Patrick Marleau—Quieted critics with monster first half

C Henrik Sedin—Only because Thornton starting here would be silly

Reserves

G Ilya Bryzgalov—Big reason why Phoenix is in the playoff hunt

G Jimmy Howard—Again tough call with Nabakov, Luongo and Huet all having good seasons, but where would Red Wings be without Howard?

D Drew Doughty—Going to be a superstar in this league

D Christian Ehrhoff—Why did the Sharks trade this guy?

D Stephane Robidas—Has become a force on the power play  

D Lubomir Visnovsky—Bright spot for dismal team, tough choice for Oiler between him and Penner

F Joe Thornton—What a dominant first line the Sharks have

F Patrick Kane—Scoring a torrid pace for hot Hawks

F Brad Richards—Finally proving worth in Dallas with more points this season than all of last

F Paul Stastny—Tough choice for Av with Stastny and Wolski

F Mikko Koivu—What can’t this guy do?

F Corey Perry—You want consistent, he had a 19-game point streak this season

F Andy McDonald—Finally makes first all-star team because we have to take a Blues player

F Rick Nash—Still scoring for struggling team

F Patric Hornqvist—Came out of nowhere to score some big goals for Predators